by Crimson Syn
After about an hour of trying to come up with a plan, I remembered Lucian's house up in the mountains. We'd gone out there once for one of his fancy soirees if anything it was hidden well enough in those mountains that no one would know where to find us. The only problem was that the only person with keys to that house, other than Lucian, was Drake.
I let the phone ring and prepared myself for the shit to hit the fan. As soon as his voice came on I cut him off. The least I could tell him, the better.
“I need to borrow the keys to the cabin.”
“What for?”
“Don’t ask questions, Archer, just give me the keys. I know you have them.”
“I do. But the keys were entrusted to me by Lucian. I don’t understand…”
“Don’t be a twit, just give me the bloody keys!” I felt exasperated. All these explanations when all I needed was to get us out of here and somewhere safe.
“Whoa. What the fuck is going on with you?”
I sighed and swept my hand through my hair. I didn’t really want to tell Archer about my private life, but the fucker had proven to be loyal in the last few months. If I couldn’t get my contacts to help us out, I was sure Drake Archer would have my back.
I slowly started explaining the events that had occurred in Ravenhead in the last week. From Victoria coming in under false pretenses to the fact that she was being blackmailed. He never said a word and the more information I revealed, the more the silence penetrated on the other end of the line.
“Are you listening to me, Archer?”
“I’m listening,” he stated glumly. He had this tone he used when his FBI side came out. That was the tone I was afraid of.
“Now don’t go off on one your rants, Archer. This is not the time…”
“The hell it isn’t! I told you…”
“You told me! Yes, you told me! How the bloody fuck was I supposed to guess she, of all people, was working for Catchfire!”
“Because you were blinded by her damn beauty, you fool!”
We both seethed on either end of the line. “So you were right, but what’s done is done. What the fuck are we going to do now?”
“I have to tell Lucian.”
“No! He’ll want her behind bars.”
“She deserves to be behind bars!”
“Over my dead body, Archer,” I growled.
I heard Drake sigh before he spoke again. “She deserves some kind of punishment, Cunningham. She lied, she infiltrated our systems, she led the way for Catchfire to gain sensitive information. Sensitive government information!”
“The hell she did! Besides, the information she gathered she hasn’t given to them.”
"How do you know she won't? How do you know that right in this instant she's not handing over that information to protect her family? Fuck, you know I would in a heartbeat and you would too."
I dragged my hand down my face and faced the windows. “She’s my family now, Archer. Do you understand that? Do you understand what I am saying to you?”
The silence seemed to swallow me whole and when he spoke again I knew he understood the situation in its entirety. “The keys are in my office. Meet me at Ravenhead in two hours and Max?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t let her fuck with your heart, man. I get it but be sure about this…”
“I’m not going to lie to you and tell you I didn’t have my doubts. But after what I’ve uncovered in the last few hours I have no doubt in my heart or my mind that this woman is innocent. She’s also mine, Drake. If there’s anyone who understands that, it’s you.”
“I’ll meet you in two.”
“Thanks.”
Like I said, the man was my devil’s advocate, but he was the only one I could trust when it came down to it. Turns out he was the only man I’d want watching my back if something went down which I had a feeling it just might.
12
VICTORIA
I found him in the living room on his laptop. A look of concentration furrowed his brow and I slowly approached him, careful not to disturb him.
“Are you hungry?” He asked still focused on the screen. After a moment his eyes finally met mine,
“I…”
“I bought some food.” He stood up and grabbed my hand, leading me to the kitchen. He sat me down on the stool at the bar and rummaged through some bags before taking out a few Styrofoam containers. I watched as he served some sort of pasta dish into a bowl, warmed it up and then placed it in front of me. The aroma of Italian pasta and Alfredo sauce wafted through my nostrils and made my tummy rumble.
“Eat up, then.” He leaned back against the counter and watched me.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
He nodded. “In a bit. Need to finish something first.” He came around the counter and stood near me. “Eat up, take a shower and then come out here. We need to talk.” He kissed my forehead and walked away. I stared at the pasta in front of me and my mouth watered. As I took the first bite I wondered what he wanted to talk to me about. I wondered if he was done with me. If this was it.”
An hour later I was standing before him in a clean white t-shirt he’d left for me. It barely reached the tops of my thighs and I swallowed, clenching the soft material as his eyes trailed up my legs, lingering on the seam of the t-shirt.
“Are you wearing underwear?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have any,” I barely whispered.
I could barely hear the deep growl he gave out, but I could visibly see the strain of his muscles as he clenched his fists, and that vein that popped out on his neck, that made me want to trace it with my tongue. The heat was there, and it was ignited, but I wasn't going to give in to him so easily. Instead, I turned and took a seat on the corner of the chair across from him. I propped my knees up and stretched his shirt over my knees, covering myself up from his view.
He grunted and hung his head, his forearms propped on his knees, his hands folded in front of him. He looked wrung out, exhausted.
“What are you thinking?” I whispered.
“I’m thinking…I’m thinking I need to take you away from here.”
“What?”
“Your Father is not a good man, Victoria. He’s far from just a businessman with connections. He’s evil.”
“No. He can’t be that bad. He’s my Father.”
“He’s also one of the heads of the Zagort’sya.”
I gasped, sitting up, my hands covering my lips. “Impossible. How…I…”
“I know you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t. I know nothing about him.” My eyes searched his. “But he’s my father.”
"I understand, Beautiful. But he's not the type of Father you want in your life. He'll hurt you, my love."
“I can’t possibly believe that.”
“Victoria.” My name on his lips, spoken in that tone that told me I needed to wake up, I needed to open my eyes.
I looked up at him and shook my head. “I swear to you. I didn’t know.”
“I believe you, Victoria, which is why I need to hide you.”
My heart soared at his words. That hope came rushing back and all that mattered at that moment was him. I stood up and slowly made my way over to him. His head was down but as I appeared before him, he slowly gazed up at me.
“What are you doing?” he frowned, swallowing hard as his eyes lingered on my thighs.
“You believe me?” I whispered.
He looked up at me and our eyes locked as I walked another step towards him, his legs spreading as I stood between them. His hands found their way to my hips and he shook his head.
I ran my hands along his rigid jawline and smiled softly down at him. “You believe me.”
“Of course, I believe you. If I didn’t you think you’d still be here?”
I nudged at his thighs and stepped closer still.
“Victoria,” my name a warning on his lips, but I didn’t hear it. I wanted to disobey him.
"Max," I whispered and his hands suddenly came around me, he pulled me toward him, hugging me around the waist, his cheek pressed against my breast.
I ran my hands through his hair and bent over him, hugging him tightly to me. “I want to be yours,” I whispered.
He slowly looked up at me and his eyes were filled with raw emotion. Holding onto his shoulders, I slowly moved forward, straddling his lap. I sat down onto it, the hem of the shirt riding up my thighs and as he looked down between us, he groaned, staring down at my exposed pussy as I slid it across the front of his jeans.
“Fuck,” he breathed and gripping the t-shirt, he swept it off me. He leaned back and cupped my breasts. His hands were warm and strong as they squeezed my nipples. I bit my lip and whimpered for him as he touched me.
Reaching between us I pulled down his zipper and dragged his cock out. Wrapping my hand around him, I gave him hard, long strokes that made him hiss in pleasure. He reached up, cupping my cheek and pulled me toward his mouth, capturing my lips in a soft, sweet kiss. He gripped my hips and slid me up as he tugged his pants and briefs off. I helped him with his t-shirt, quickly running my hands over his back and pulling it off, needing his bare skin on mine.
He wrapped his hands around my waist and tugged me onto him, his mouth finding my breast, suckling it as his cock positioned itself at my entrance.
“Max,” I breathed as he humped at me, his cock entering my slick center easily. My pussy swallowing up every single inch of him.
“Victoria,” he breathed into my mouth as I slid down his cock. We were both moaning from the sheer ecstasy of being connected once again.
"Slowly, Beautiful. I don't want to hurt you." The reminder of what he'd done to me earlier still hung in the air, but it didn't bother me. That was what we did to each other. That was love and pain and I cherished it.
I cupped his cheeks as I slid him fully inside of me. He looked up at me and I bent down, grazing my lips to his. “Hurt me,” I whimpered.
He growled and gripped my hips, tugging me up on my knees he held me there as he slowly slid his cock in and out of me.
“Fuck it,” he breathed hoarsely and I held on to the back of the chair as I moved on him. My tits shaking as I slid up and down on his thick shaft.
It was amazing to me how each time was so different, each time better than the last. He filled me deeper, harder and I could feel the head of his cock hitting my g-spot with each stroke.
“You like creaming on my cock, don’t you pretty girl?” He growled as his thrusts got faster. I cried out at his words, his hot dirty words drove me wild.
"Fuck me," I whispered and he looked up at me, his eyes dark and fierce. He grabbed me by the waist, slamming me down on his length and my body thrummed in his hands.
“I want you, Victoria. I want you all over me. Do it, Beautiful. Fuck yourself on my cock,” he swept his tongue along the curve of my breasts and my eyes met his.
“I want to hear my little vixen moan my name,” I moaned out just like he wanted me too and he groaned, sucking on a nipple, his tongue curling around it and biting down on it.
“Max, my God!”
“This sweet little fanny feels so good wrapped around me. It’s mine, my beautiful girl. All mine!”
I shattered right there on his lap. I bowed back, arching my body into his. His hands squeezed my flesh as he growled for me to use him and then a whispered I’m sorry made my tears flow. He continued to fuck me through the whirlwind of raw emotions and as a sob escaped me he lifted me into his arms, holding me tight. We were still connected as he walked us to the bedroom and laid me down on the soft sheets where he’d so brutally taken me earlier.
He made love to me then, his body sliding against mine, his cock buried deep inside of me. I cried out more than once as he kissed away every tear. We didn’t say the words, we didn’t have to. We were engulfed in too many overwhelming feelings to even speak them. We simply felt each other and it was more than I could have asked for. He wasn’t going to leave me and as my body elevated to new heights in his arms, I became his once again.
13
MAXWELL
She left my side as soon as we entered the house. It was located about forty minutes away from Ravenhead, tucked deep into the Catskill Mountains overlooking the Hudson River.
“Is it yours?” She asked me, her lips parted in awe.
“No darling, it’s a friend’s.”
“It’s stunning.”
“You’re stunning,” I stated matter-of-factly and she smiled back at me as she continued to inspect the house.
“We can stay here for a little while, but we’ll need to leave soon. I don’t think we’ll be secure here for long. I just need to get a few things set in place for us and we’ll leave in a couple days.”
She turned to me then and smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach her pretty eyes. I felt horrible for the way I had treated her, it still weighed heavily on my heart. I wanted to do anything and everything for us to move on and although I knew she trusted me, I was still upset with myself.
I lead the way into the kitchen and she followed closely, slipping into a stool at the counter as I started unpacking the food we’d bought earlier.
“Hungry?”
“Lately, you seem to ask me that a lot, but yes, I’m starving,” she licked her lips and leaned far over the counter trying to grab at an apple. I playfully swiped it out of reach and as she reached forward her breasts nearly spilled out of the t-shirt I had lent her. I licked my lips as I stared down at those lush full mounds that always captivated me.
“Hungry?” She teased with a lopsided grin.
I nodded slowly, taking a bite of her apple. I looked into her eyes and leaned in, my lips brushing against hers as the sweetness of the apple filled my tongue. “Very,” I rumbled and she bit her lip sensually.
She smiled against my mouth and suddenly the apple was swiftly taken from my hand and promptly bit into as she retreated back into her seat. I shook my head as I watched her settle back into the stool and close her eyes humming as she ate away at the apple. Sin personified as she sat there in front of me, enjoying her stolen treat.
“I will get that back,” I mused watching her as she fidgeted in her seat. Her eyes swept the room and focused on the large floor to ceiling windows that enclosed the back of the house and faced out to the calmness of the river. The sun was setting behind the mountain range and that pretty pink and purple swirl I loved so much encompassed the sky.
My focus went back on her and I noticed the sad look in her eyes. I couldn’t help but think it was because of me. Maybe she didn’t feel safe here. Maybe she was better off somewhere else, somewhere without me.
“What’s wrong?”
She shrugged and set the half-eaten apple down in front of her, staring at it. "I don't know. I just got a bad feeling about all this. Are you sure Lucy and William are alright?"
I walked around the counter, slowly approaching her. “They’re alright. I just got word that they are in a safe place. They may need to hide for a while, but they’re alive.”
She nodded slowly and reached out to play with the watch that wrapped around my wrist. My eyes followed her fingertips and my heart swelled at her feathery touch.
I feel like we’re being watched. My gut instincts are telling me to run away,” she looked up at me, a worried glimmer overshadowing those bright hues. I reached out and hooked a finger around her chin, gently tilting her head up until her eyes met mine.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I’m not a naïve little girl, Maxwell. I’ve lived a hard life. I’ve seen what these men are capable of. I’ve seen what men will do for power…for money. They want what we have and I can assure you they will not stop until they get it.”
I sighed. “So be it. Let them come for it. I’m prepared to take anyone down for you, Beautiful.”
“Why?” she whispered, the anguish apparent in her voice and in her eyes.
I
shrugged. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not worth it, Maxwell. I’ve done horrible things in my life…to you. I’m a thief and now I’m aiding terrorists.”
“Well you’re the prettiest terrorist I’ve ever laid my eyes on,” I smiled at her teasingly.
“I just don’t understand you.”
“Everyone has done a terrible thing that they’re trying to overcome, including myself. Who am I not to give you that chance?”
She shook her head and a tear escaped down her cheek. I reached out and gingerly wiped it away. “Don’t cry my beautiful, Victoria. Everything is going to be alright. I’m right here and I’m not leaving your side.”
She leaned in and wrapped her arms around my waist, my hands rubbing her arms softly. I let her hold on for as long as she needed to. I looked out at the darkening sky, my thoughts starting to drift to the flash drive I held in my back pocket and to the threat that now loomed over my head. Catchfire had already caught on that the delivery wasn’t going to take place. We’d left the city only a few hours ago, making sure not to leave a trail. Victoria couldn’t go back the hotel she was staying at and we were pretty sure the courier they had sent had informed them that there was no one home. We still had time since they’d first check her place and then they’d come to mine.
Drake had given me two trackers, one for me and one that I placed along the bottom of the sneakers I had bought Victoria earlier. Drake had surveillance all over Lucian’s properties, he’d assured me that he’d be able to find me if something happened. We were pretty much on our own from this point on, but if Catchfire did find us, I was prepared to take them down. I was probably crazy but I was ready to go to war for the woman in my arms. She deserved that and so much more. I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t. And if I did, I wouldn’t think twice before choosing to go with her.